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Virtual challenge will honor route allied forces took

Tue, 06/09/2020 - 9:05am

NEW ORLEANS – To commemorate the 76th anniversary of D-Day and the Museum’s 20th anniversary, The National WWII Museum and Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic launched the inaugural WWII Liberty Road Challenge to honor the route Allied Forces took to liberate France in the summer of 1944.
On June 6, which is the 76th anniversary of D-Day, runners, walkers, joggers and even bicyclists began to sign up to tackle the virtual challenge either individually or as part of a team.
Registration for the 2020 Liberty Road Challenge will last through 11:59 p.m. July 4. To register, interested participants should visit www.ccc10k.com. Any questions runners have about the virtual race can be emailed to customer.service@ccc10k.com.
Those signing up as individuals will complete a 100-mile virtual course honoring the route from Sainte-Mere-Eglise to Saint-Malo in France. The team challenge is a 712-mile virtual course divided up between team members that covers the entire route from Sainte-Mere-Eglise in France to Bastogne in Belgium. Individuals and team members can begin participating in the challenge after completing registration.
Logging of mileage will begin on July 4 and end Sept. 10 (the day Bastogne was liberated from Nazi occupation in 1944). Individuals and teams may complete the challenge by walking, jogging, running, bicycling or any combination of the four.
All registered participants receive a virtual bib, commemorative 2020 Liberty Road Challenge T-shirt, WWII finishers dog tag and a 25% discount for a ticket to The National WWII Museum.
The entry cost for both the individual and team challenges is $50. A portion of entry and 100% of donations to the challenge will go directly to the museum and its mission.
“With the anniversary of D-Day this month, we’re thrilled to partner with The National WWII Museum to launch a patriotic way to stay active,” said 2020 Liberty Road Challenge Director Eric Stuart. “We hope this inaugural 2020 Liberty Road Challenge will raise awareness for the Museum, honor WWII veterans and help keep people active during the ongoing COVID crisis.”
“We’re excited to partner with the Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic team on the Liberty Road Challenge,” said Stephen J. Watson, Museum President & CEO. “It’s a great way to help support the Museum and its mission to tell the story of the American experience in World War II while promoting the health and wellness of our communities.”
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The Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic 10k road race is held annually the Saturday before Easter Sunday. The 10-K course (6.2 miles) begins in downtown News Orleans in front of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, runs through the historic French Quarter, and then all the way up tree-lined Esplanade Avenue to City Park where a huge concert festival is held immediately following the event for all the runners and walkers. The CCC is preceded by a large two-day Health & Fitness Expo, which is free and open to the public the Thursday and Friday prior to the race.
The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world — why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today — so that future generations will know the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America’s National WWII Museum, the institution celebrates the American spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifices of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and served on the Home Front. For information on the attraction, call 877-813-3329 or 504-528-1944 or visit nationalww2museum.org.

Triangle full of drama started as a crush in middle school

Tue, 06/09/2020 - 8:49am

By Jeanne Phillips, ©United Features Syndicate

DEAR ABBY: In middle school, I had a crush on a boy. He didn’t even know I existed. Through a chance meeting many years later, he noticed me, but there were complications. He didn’t know how to tell his ex it was too late for her, and it became a love triangle. She saw the error of her ways and left. He and I have been together ever since. He still talked to her as they had been friends forever, but two months ago he stopped.
Meanwhile, through all of this, she has been cyber-stalking and manipulating me. She has created multiple Facebook accounts to torture me, sent me a video of my boyfriend doing sexual things and tried to make me believe it was current. (It was five years old.)
He cut off contact with her, and it was glorious until last week, when she helped him get back in touch with his son, whom he hasn’t seen in 10-plus years. I see it for the manipulation it is, but he sees it as her redemption. He doesn’t care that it hurts me, and he refuses to get rid of her.
She has slandered me all over Facebook, and I don’t think he should expect me to be OK with this or for him to even WANT a person like that in his life. He was AMAZING without her influence.
How do I get him back to that person? I miss him so much!
ANGUISHED IN ARIZONA

DEAR ANGUISHED: Let me get this straight. This man cheated on his ex with you, and you expected her to play fair? I wish you had mentioned why your boyfriend hasn’t seen his son in more than 10 years. It might have been the most interesting paragraph in your letter. Were he and his ex married? Just living together while she was “in denial?”
From where I sit, she is doing everything she can to fight for “her man.” He appears to have fences to mend with his son and with her, and you may have to accept it. It looks like he has already made up his mind about that, and unless you can accept it, your romance will be over. Only you can decide whether staying with this person is worth the drama.

DEAR ABBY: My sister-in-law moved into the house next door three years ago. While I enjoy her company and like her as a person, I’m having difficulty expressing my frustration with one particular issue.
I have a beautiful hedge that separates our driveways and provides privacy. She regularly leaves her garbage can lids on top of my hedge as well as various other things she’s discarding (eventually). Today I noticed a large portion of the shrub showing what appears to be a chemical burn. (She has been known to use toxic chemicals to rid her yard of weeds, etc.) I don’t want to offend her, but at the same time, I’m struggling to find the words to properly address my desire for her to mind the property line. Help!
RELATED TO MY NEIGHBOR

DEAR RELATED: This is something you should have addressed when the problem started.
Approach her calmly and say something like this: “It bothers me that you leave your trash can lids and other items on my hedge. When you do, it makes me feel disrespected. Something you left on the hedge has damaged it. My hedge was expensive to install, and this is upsetting me. Please don’t do it again.”
***
For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order “How to Have a Lovely Wedding.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Cristobal dodges St. Mary

Mon, 06/08/2020 - 10:27am

Staff Report
The Tri-City area was waiting Monday to see whether Tropical Storm Cristobal, which was predicted last week to come ashore near Morgan City, would pass to the east without generating more than light rain and a few stiff breezes here.
Cristobal’s poorly structured center came ashore in the 5-6 p.m. hour Sunday in the Grand Isle-Barataria Bay area. Coastal flooding of 3-5 feet was reported along the Gulf Coast into Mississippi.
East St. Mary has an 80% chance of rain Monday, diminishing to 20% Monday night. Winds will be 10-15 mph with gusts to 20 mph.
The Atchafalaya River at Morgan City is expected to rise to 8.0 feet by about 7 p.m. Monday because of Cristobal’s 1- to 3-foot storm surge. It will fall quickly to near the 6-foot minor flood stage overnight, the National Weather Service said. The 8-foot level could cause flooding near Lake Palourde and in lower St. Martin.
St. Mary was at the center of many of the early predictions for Cristobal, which moved north across the Gulf at 12-14 mph after soaking Mexico and portions of Central America.
The first predictions were for a landfall somewhere between Vermilion Bay and the Atchafalaya. There was talk in some early forecasts of 10-15 inches of rain, just as there had been nearly a year earlier during Hurricane Barry.
As the weekend wore on, Cristobal’s projected path moved further to the east, being described first as “east of Morgan City,” then to Terrebonne or Lafourche, and finally to the point where its ragged center reached land near the mouth of the Mississippi.
Just as with Barry, the rain forecasts for St. Mary were far higher than the actual rainfall. But unlike the situation during Barry, the parish didn’t get enough wind to cause damage or to affect the power grid.
The gauge at Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport near Patterson recorded 1.3 inches of rain between midday Sunday and Monday morning.
Wind gusts of up to 28 mph were reported Sunday morning.
Cleco reported no widespread power outages in St. Mary. The electric utility said at 9 p.m. Sunday that it had restored power to more than 3,000 of the 3,500 St. Tammany customers who lost power during Cristobal. A few other outages were reported in Washington Parish.

They know the drill: Local people worked to prepare for Cristobal

Mon, 06/08/2020 - 10:25am

By GEOFF STOUTE

gstoute@daily-review.com

Berwick resident Kevin Lewis wasn’t taking any chances with Tropical Storm Cristobal.
The Hebert Street resident’s home flooded twice last year in a short time due to rain events “like we’ve never had before.”
He said he flooded in April 2019 before again flooding in June even worse with about 3-4 inches of water in every room.
“One day after they had finished my house (repairs) from the first flood, we flooded again,” Lewis said.
Saturday morning, he was at the town of Berwick sandbag location under the U.S. 90 bridge loading his truck bed with bags to protect his home from the rain expected from Tropical Storm Cristobal.
“My plan this time is I’m wrapping the house,” Lewis said. “I’m going all the way around the house, three sandbags high, and I’m going to leave them there the remainder of hurricane season. This back bending, it takes its toll.”
As for the storm, Lewis said it presents a lot of unknowns.
“It’s the unknown, because they’re not sure where it’s going to hit,” he said. “You don’t know how much the water’s going to come, and the Atchafalaya’s already high. I’m going to just prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”
Nearby on Hogan Street, resident Josh Montgomery placed sandbags outside areas of his home where flooding occurred last year due to inclement weather.
“We took in a little bit of water last year, and we got sandbags to hopefully keep that from happening again,” he said.
Montgomery said his expectations for the storm are rain and down limbs due to wind.
“I figure there’s going to be a good bit of rain, but the risk of getting it in your house, hopefully it doesn’t happen, but I’m prepared for it,” Montgomery said.
In Lower St. Martin Parish, Baton Rouge resident Matt Burns, who owns a camp on Landry Lane, said he didn’t expect any significant problems on his property or water to rise that high.
“I figure if we didn’t flood last year (during the high water event), we’re probably not going to flood this year,” he said while fishing Saturday.
Burns said his preparations would consist of securing and picking up some furniture outside his camp.

Allain pushes tax break for small business

Mon, 06/08/2020 - 10:22am

By CATHERINE HUNT, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE—A Senate committee advanced a bill Friday that would suspend franchise taxes for small business corporations in Louisiana.
The bill was passed in a special legislative session that is focused on finishing a $33 billion budget for next fiscal year and considering tax cuts for businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.
The franchise-tax bill, by Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, is one of 15 bills approved for debate that aims to suspend or cut taxes on businesses as they recover from the coronavirus shutdown.
Franchise taxes are imposed on businesses operating in the state. Businesses must pay $1.50 in taxes for each $1,000 of capital and $3 for each $1,000 in excess of $300,000 of capital.
Allain’s bill would suspend the corporation franchise tax on the first $300,000 of taxable capital for small businesses. That change would cost the state $5.4 million in lost revenues in the fiscal year beginning July 1.
The cuts in business taxes were proposed by a task force formed by Senate President Page Cortez and Speaker of the House Clay Schexnayder, both Republicans.
In the regular session that ended Monday, legislators passed a Republican plan that would use $300 million out of $811 million of federal COVID-19 relief money to provide grants to small businesses.
Gov. John Bel Edwards would prefer to pass all of that money to local governments to help with virus-related expenses and has indicated he would veto the bill. About $511 million would be reserved for local governments under the Republican plan.
Some Democrats oppose the tax cuts to businesses. Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, said the Republicans are using the special session to pass legislation businesses have sought for years in the name of virus recovery.
Opponents say that the business tax cuts could force cuts in funding for some state departments and the state’s universities. Colleges face more than $20 million of possible cuts in state support, and they face tens of millions of COVID-19 expenses that exceed the federal aid they are receiving.
The House Appropriations Committee advanced the proposed budget Friday using $562 million in federal coronavirus aid to solve a $904 million hole in the next fiscal year.
About $90 million of the state’s rainy day fund would also be used. But the budget passed by the committee does not take account of the millions of dollars of possible cuts in revenue from the reductions in business taxes that are still being considered, and those could force further cuts in spending.
Given the loss of revenue from the COVID-19, Edwards had dropped plans to increase funding for early childhood education and K-12 schools.
But the proposed House budget gives public defenders an increase of $7 million after public defenders requested more funding during a hearing Thursday.
The budget bill now moves to the House floor, where it will be debated Wednesday. The legislature must finish a budget before July 1 or lose the power to appropriate money.

Morgan City police radio logs for June 4-5

Mon, 06/08/2020 - 10:21am

Staff Report

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
Thursday, June 4
6:11 a.m. 100 block of South Railroad Avenue; Disturbance.
10:51 a.m. 300 block of South Railroad Avenue; Criminal damage to property.
11:56 a.m. 500 block of Terrebonne Street; Officer stand by.
Noon; 500 block of Terrebonne Street; Suspicious activity.
12:17 p.m. 1000 block of Third Street; Theft.
12:48 p.m. La. 182/U.S. 90 Junction; Traffic incident.
1:11 p.m. 600 block of Brashear Avenue; Assistance.
1:40 p.m. 100 block of Chennault Street; Traffic incident.
1:56 p.m. 400 block of Halsey Street; Accident.
1:57 p.m. 400 block of Halsey Street; Theft.
2:15 p.m. 1100 block of Seventh Street; Alarm.
2:43 p.m. 300 block of Patton Street; Theft.
2:55 p.m. 300 block of Bowman Street; Fire.
4:07 p.m. 7700 block of La. 182; Assistance.
6:41 p.m. 600 block of Freret Street; Disturbance.
8:36 p.m. 1000 block of Ditch Avenue; Terrorizing
8:45 p.m. Third and Greenwood streets; Disturbance.
9:07 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Disturbance.
9:15 p.m. Sixth and Egle streets; Traffic incident.
Friday, June 5
1:37 a.m. 600 block of Fourth Street; Animal complaint.
3:01 a.m. 600 block of Freret Street; Battery.
3:58 a.m. 1500 block of Sixth Street; Medical emergency.

Man accused of battering, resisting officer

Mon, 06/08/2020 - 10:16am

Staff Report

A Franklin man has been jailed and charged with battery on an officer and resisting arrest, Sheriff Blaise Smith said.
—Travis Sanchez Boatman, 39, Carl Foulcard Street, Franklin, was arrested at 9:22 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of battery on a police officer, and resisting an officer with force or violence, and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. No bail has been set.
Smith also reported these arrests:
—Kristy Renee Rulf, 41, Carla Court, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:22 p.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Rulf was released on a summons to appear Sept. 24.
—Melvin Curtis Sylvester, Sr., 59, James Street, Siracusa, was arrested at 5:06 a.m. Friday on a charge of unauthorized entry of dwelling-attempted, resisting an officer by flight and disturbing the peace by language. No bail has been set.
Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported this arrest:
—Anita M. Steel, 45, Freret Street, Morgan City, was arrested 3:10 a.m. Friday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.
Officers were called to a residence on Freret Street for a domestic disturbance. They learned Anita Steel had committed a battery on a family member.
She was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
—Nicholas Walter Grimmett was arrested Wednesday on charges of violation of a protective order and domestic abuse battery.
The charges stem from incidents April 9. Assumption deputies responded to a call of a domestic incident at a location in Bayou L’Ourse.
At that time, deputies interviewed Grimmett’s domestic partner, who indicated that Grimmett had struck her.
The deputy identified noticeable injuries to the victim, necessitating an arrest.
At the time, Grimmett had left the area. Deputies issued a warrant for Grimmett’s arrest. At the time of this incident, Grimmett was under a protective order previously filed by the same victim.
On Wednesday, Grimmett was stopped by a Louisiana state trooper in St. Mary Parish for a traffic violation. Upon checking the state database, the trooper discovered that Grimmett was wanted by Assumption Parish.
Nicholas Walter Grimmett was arrested and booked into the St. Mary Parish Jail as a fugitive from Assumption Parish.
Grimmett was transported to Assumption Parish on Thursday. Grimmett was incarcerated pending a bond hearing.
— Skyla Shelby, 19, Pear Street, Thibodaux, was arrested early Friday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of MDMA, possession of cocaine and illegal carrying of weapons in the presence of controlled dangerous substances.
—Treandre Lavante Theriot, 24, Isle of Cuba Road, Schriever, was arrested early Friday on charges of possession of marijuana and illegal carrying of weapons in the presence of controlled dangerous substances.
—Ijah Baptiste, 26, Anthony Drive, Thibodaux, was arrested early Friday on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal carrying of weapons in the presence of controlled dangerous substances.
A uniformed patrol deputy observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation and initiated a stop of the violator vehicle.
At that time, the driver was identified Baptiste. The deputy also identified two passengers in the vehicle Shelby and Theriot.
The deputy interviewed the driver and both passengers. At some point, it was determined that Theriot was in possession of marijuana and was placed under arrest. Consent to search the vehicle was obtained and during that process, three firearms and illegal narcotics were seized. As a result, Baptiste and Shelby were also arrested.
All three were booked into the Assumption Parish Detention.

Get It Growing: It’s time to talk tomatoes

Mon, 06/08/2020 - 8:29am

By HEATHER KIRK-BALLARD, LSU AgCenter horticulturist

I’ve been getting a great deal of questions about tomatoes lately. ‘Tis the season. Most folks who planted vegetable gardens in this spring are now reaping the fruits of their work.
And with this season of harvest comes the challenges of the weather of the season, which is favorable for many of the diseases that affect tomatoes. But not every problem is caused by disease. Some can be because of fertility issues, lack of pollination, inadvertent herbicide damage and pests.
Let’s look at some of these issues and how to deal with them.
Tomatoes grow best in most types of well-drained soils. That being said, tomatoes should be rotated out of an area or container it’s been grown in every year for a period of three years and replaced with another crop such as squash, beans or corn. Avoid using related vegetables such as potatoes, peppers and eggplant. This helps control soil-related diseases.
Unfortunately, tomatoes suffer from many diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi that are helped along by several pests. So, if you like a challenge, tomatoes are your crop. But do not be discouraged. Researchers continue to work year after year to understand these diseases and find ways to prevent and treat them.
Because the list of diseases is so extensive, we’re going to cover just the common tomato disorders that aren’t related to disease. You can check the 2020 Louisiana Plant Disease Management Guide for a complete list of disease symptoms and treatments with corresponding photos online at https://bit.ly/LaPlantDiseases.
The first disorder that often affects tomatoes is blossom end rot. The telltale sign is a sunken black spot on the bottom of the fruit where the blossom once was. This indicated you need to adjust your watering. The spots become enlarged by decay-causing organisms that infect the compromised fruit. Try using a soaker hose or drip irrigation to help with consistent water delivery to allow the plant to efficiently process the calcium that is also associated with blossom end rot.
Calcium deficiency in the developing fruit can be an issue in combination with fluctuations in moisture caused by over- and under-watering, high humidity and rainy or cloudy weather. The problem can be exacerbated by excess ammonia forms of nitrogen (ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate) in complete fertilizers such as 10-10-10, potassium or magnesium because they compete with calcium for uptake in the plant.
Now let’s look at two garden practices that have been going on for ages: Epsom salts and eggshells. It’s true that eggshells are a source of calcium, but it won’t be available in time to help with issues going on right now. Honestly, you are better off composting eggshells and then amending your soil with compost with each crop rotation. However, it will never hurt to throw eggshells in the garden. I get it. Grandma always did it, so it has become a tradition you do to honor a family member. But the science tells us that you will not receive enough calcium in time to alleviate any problem with this method.
Many people follow the common practice of adding Epsom salts to the garden, but this practice actually may promote blossom end rot. Potassium or magnesium will compete with calcium for uptake by the plants. Do not add Epsom salts to garden soil unless a soil report indicates a deficiency.
You can help treat blossom end rot by using limestone applied three to six months before planting or adding gypsum (calcium sulfate) applied to the soil at 1 to 2 pounds per 100 square feet. The soil pH should be 6.5. A calcium nitrate sidedress fertilizer is usually the best choice and is applied monthly at 2 pounds per 100 feet of row. You can also apply gypsum at 1 to 2 pounds per 100 square feet as a sidedress treatment.
Another concern with tomatoes is growth cracks. Tomatoes crack when we have uneven watering, just as with blossom end rot. Drought followed by heavy rain or watering encourages rapid growth during ripening, leading to cracks in the fruit. Some cracks may be deep, allowing decay organisms to enter the fruit and cause fruit rot. You can help prevent this by providing even moisture with regular watering.
Another common problem is poor fruit set, and it can happen for many reasons. Extreme temperatures and drought can be the cause and are conditions we Louisianans are accustomed to. The blossoms drop off without setting fruit when temperatures are below 55 degrees or above 90 degrees for extended periods.
Plant heat-tolerant tomatoes to help fight the heat. And speaking of heat, you should look for varieties with names that are associated with heat as those that are heat tolerant. Look for Solar Fire Hybrid, Florida 91 Hybrid (very reliable), Phoenix, Sun Chaser, Sun Leaper, Solar Set and Sunmaster. Bella Rosa is also recommended for heat tolerance.
Other situations that effect fruit set include not enough sunlight — specifically, less than six hours of sun a day — and excessive nitrogen that promotes leaf growth at the expense of blossoms.
Growers who use herbicides around the garden can also see herbicide injury from the drift from nearby sprays of non-specific herbicides. This can cause whitening or yellowing on leaves. If you use herbicides, be sure to work with them on days with the least amount of wind. Also try targeted sprayer nozzles to minimize drift.
Finally, another temperature-associated issue is leaf curling. This upward curling of lower, older leaves happens during prolonged high temperatures and drought. Not much you can do here. These plants have come to the end of their life due to heavy yields and increasing temperatures. It’s just time to plant heat-set tomatoes like those listed above.
Tomatoes are a challenging crop, but they are well worth the effort for enjoying the fruits of your labor. Search tomato on the AgCenter website at www.lsuagcenter.com for additional information about tomato growing.

Roommate’s drunken fights begin to wear renter down

Mon, 06/08/2020 - 8:26am

By Jeanne Phillips, ©United Features Syndicate

DEAR ABBY: My roommate owns the house. His girlfriend and her two children are over here all day, every day. I have my own living room, office and bedroom, and we share the kitchen and bathroom.
I’m clean and respectful and try to mind my own business. The problem is, neither of them work. They drink heavily every day and then scream and fight for hours. Since COVID-19, they have been drinking even more and fighting constantly. Sometimes it gets physical.
My roommate is a verbally abusive drunk, and his girlfriend threatens to leave when he starts abusing her kids, but doesn’t follow through. I have intervened a couple of times on behalf of the children, but there’s only so much I can do.
Lately, they’ve been screaming at the top of their lungs about me. I work from home and often customers on the phone hear them drop F-bomb after F-bomb. I’m afraid their behavior will lead to me losing my job. They’re also up until 2 or 3 a.m. every night fighting, which keeps me from sleeping (even with earplugs).
I’m completely stressed out and starting to get depressed. I’m not sure what to do. I have limited funds, so moving would be difficult. I’m wondering if you have any suggestions so I can weather the storm.
BAD SITUATION IN UTAH

DEAR BAD SITUATION: This storm isn’t going to end. I feel for the children whose mother doesn’t protect them from her abusive boyfriend. The result will be they will think they deserve the mistreatment they are receiving, which may affect them for the rest of their lives.
I am not sure there is a way to “weather” the storm. Because these addicts cannot control their behavior, and it is affecting the way your clients perceive you, it would be better to get out of there. If possible, go live temporarily with a friend or relative until you find affordable alternative living quarters. Your job may depend on it.

DEAR ABBY: My daughter-in-law “Hannah” told one of my children that she is sorry she married my son. He does not know. They are both young adults.
Hannah and her mother had pushed for the marriage. She even bought her wedding dress before he proposed. My son loves her. He is special-needs, lower IQ and gullible.
What do I do with this information? It will hurt him, but I don’t want him wasting years married to someone who doesn’t love him. He deserves better than that.
SAD MOM IN FLORIDA

DEAR SAD MOM: Your son needs to know what Hannah has been saying and receive as much support from the family as possible. I think the news should come from the person in whom Hannah confided rather than from you, which could be perceived as meddling. This should also be discussed with an attorney. I hope you will do it soon, before there are children involved.

DEAR ABBY: On May 3, you responded to a cancer patient about what to say to those who bring up her cancer. What do you recommend to readers whose good friends disclose their cancer for the first time?
What can be said that shows concern, understanding and being supportive?
AT A LOSS FOR WORDS

DEAR AT A LOSS: I will share what I have said to people I care about when told of their diagnosis. I hope it will guide you. I tell the person I am sorry to hear the person is having to fight that battle, that I will mention him or her in my prayers until remission is accomplished, and offer whatever emotional support the person is willing to accept from me. And then I follow through.
***
Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $16 to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Cristobal makes landfall with 50 mph winds

Sun, 06/07/2020 - 11:13am

Tropical Storm Cristobal made landfall around 5 p.m. Sunday in the Grand Isle-Barataria Bay area with 50 mph winds.
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According to the most recent National Weather Service forecast, St. Mary Parish can expect 2 to 6 inches of rain, with heavier rain possible in areas beneath rain bands.

The storm slowed to 5 mph as it approached the Louisiana coast but is picking up speed again, meteorologist Donald Jones said in a Facebook update.

A slow or stationary storm would heighten the threat of heavy rain and flooding.

"It's not something we expect to stall in the area, although it has slowed a little bit," Jones said.

For now, the heaviest rain and wind are north and east of the landfall area, Jones said. But moving into Monday, some of the tougher weather will begin to wrap around to the south and east.

St. Mary and St. Martin can expect winds of 40-50 mph and a storm surge of 1-3 feet Monday, which could cause flooding around Cypremort Point, Burns Point, Franklin and Stephensville,Jones said in a Sunday morning update.

The Atchafalaya at Morgan City, once predicted to go to 9.5 feet, is now expected to reach 8 feet about 7 p.m. Monday. The river is forecast to begin rising about 7 a.m. Monday and be back below 6.5 feet overnight.

Winds of 12-18 mph with gusts of up to 28 mph were recorded at Harry P. Williams Airport in Patterson on Sunday. Less than half an inch of rain has been recorded at the airport.

Here's the 4 p.m. forecast discussion from the National Hurricane Center:

Tropical Storm Cristobal Discussion Number 25
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL032020
400 PM CDT Sun Jun 07 2020

At least two low-level vortices have been noted rotating
cyclonically within the broad inner-core circulation, with one swirl
located southeast of the advisory position approaching the
Mississippi Delta and the other swirl located inland to the
northwest of Grand Isle, Louisiana. The larger swirl in the
southeastern quadrant will likely become the dominant low-level
circulation center later tonight after that feature moves inland
and frictional convergence tightens up the broad inner-core wind
field a little bit. The initial intensity remains 45 kt based on
data from surface observations and NOAA Doppler radar velocity data
from Slidell and Mobile, along with a satellite intensity estimate
of T3.0/45 kt from TAFB.

The initial motion estimate is an uncertain 355/06 kt due to the
uncertainty in the center position. Some erratic motion will
still be possible for the next 6-12 hours due to the dumb-belling
motion of the multiple low-level circulations. Overall, however,
the models remain in excellent agreement on Cristobal turning
north-northwestward tonight and continuing that motion through
24 hours. By Monday night, a turn toward north is forecast,
followed by a faster motion toward the northeast on Tuesday and
Wednesday ahead of an approaching frontal system. The cyclone is
expected to slow down on days 3 and 4 during extratropical
transition. The new NHC forecast track is very similar to the
previous track forecast, and lies down the center of the the
tightly packed consensus models.

No significant intensification is expected before landfall occurs
late this afternoon or early evening primarily due to Cristobal's
broad wind field. However, intrusions of dry air could result in
wind gusts of 55-60 kt in some of the stronger squalls. After
landfall, only slow weakening is expected due to the cyclone's large
wind field. In the 60-96 hour period, some slight strengthening to
gale-force strength is forecast due to strong baroclinic forcing
during the extratropical transition, and a long southerly to
south-southwesterly wind fetch blowing across Lake Michigan. The
official intensity closely follows a blend of the GFS, UKMET, and
ECMWF global models.

Cristobal remains a broad and asymmetric storm. Therefore, one
should not focus on the exact forecast track, since the associated
winds, storm surge, and rainfall extend well away the center.

Key Messages:

1. There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge outside of the
Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System from the Mouth of
the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and a Storm
Surge Warning is in effect for those areas. Life-threatening storm
surge remains possible in other portions of southern and
southeastern Louisiana where a Storm Surge Watch is in effect.
Residents in these locations should follow advice given by local
emergency officials.

2. Tropical-storm-force winds will continue to spread along the
northern Gulf coast from central Louisiana to the western Florida
Panhandle, including metropolitan New Orleans this evening, and a
Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for this area. These winds will
extend well east of Cristobals center.

3. Heavy rainfall will continue across north Florida into this
evening, diminishing overnight. Heavy rain will continue to push
inland across the central Gulf coast this afternoon and into the
Lower Mississippi Valley tonight. The Central Gulf Coast region
will be most prone to heavy rain issues after the passage of the
center of Cristobal from tonight through Monday. This heavy
rain will move up the Lower and Mid Mississippi Valley Monday into
Tuesday, then across the Upper Mississippi Valley and Northern
Plains Tuesday and Tuesday night. Flash flooding, and new and
renewed significant river flooding is possible, especially where
heavier rainfall occurs over portions of the Gulf Coast through the
Mississippi Valley.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 07/2100Z 29.1N 89.9W 45 KT 50 MPH
12H 08/0600Z 30.9N 90.8W 40 KT 45 MPH...INLAND
24H 08/1800Z 33.4N 91.6W 25 KT 30 MPH...INLAND
36H 09/0600Z 36.7N 91.7W 25 KT 30 MPH...INLAND
48H 09/1800Z 40.5N 90.6W 25 KT 30 MPH...INLAND
60H 10/0600Z 45.2N 88.3W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND
72H 10/1800Z 48.7N 85.8W 35 KT 40 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
96H 11/1800Z 53.2N 81.0W 35 KT 40 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
120H 12/1800Z...DISSIPATED